Mechanical toy



March 21, 1933. R. D. BEERBOWER MECHANICAL TOY Filed June 27, 1952 QM INVENTOR.

% ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. '21, 1933 UNITED STATES RUSSELL D. BEEBBOW-ER, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA MECHANICAL TOY.

' Application filed lJunc '27,

This" invention relates to improvementsiin mechanical toys in which a configuration is animated by operation of atorsion wheel; One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple expedient that is readily a ttachable to the operatingcojrd' for a torsion wheel by means of which aconfiguration when applied thereto is animatediipon operation of the torsion wheel. A further object is to provide a configuration andoperating meanstherefor so constructed that derangement thereof while operated normally is Oil", cumvented, 1 V An'illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing,

in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a structure in which the invention is embodied,a portion being broken away; H

' Fig. 2 isa front end elevation of a toy aeroplane constituting'a'part of the embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the actuating spiral for the aeroplane; V j 9 Fig. 4 is an inner eud'view of the actuating spiral;

Fig.5 is a cross 5-5 thereof; 2

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan of the aeroplane and actuating spiral; and

Fi 7 is an end view of a torsion wheel provided with a sound making rim.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of three co-operative members: A torsion wheel 1 and its complement-a1 operating cord 2; a configuration. 3; and an actuating spiral 4 for the configuration.

section of 3on the line The torsion wheel 1 is in the form of a circular disc provided with an axial opening 5 in which is inserted a plug 6 by which the cord 2 is secured to the wheel. The cord 2 constitutes the operating means for the wheel as in the form of an endless band which is secured in the wheel with its middle portions thereof disposed in diametrically opposite positions respecting the plug 6 at points equally spaced from the axis of the wheel so that two loops 7 and 8 of the cord are provided that extend oppositely from the wheel. Rotary movement is imparted to the wheel alternately in'opposite directions in the usual i932. Serial No. ia4i4.

manner by engaging the-outer ends of the loops withthe thumbs inserted therethrough and then alternately applying tension and slack to the cordv as thewheel revolves. Preferably. the wheel is provided with'a sound making member consistingof an elas- 'tic rim 9 that is of sufiicient breadth ast'o extend axially-from each end of the wheel so that corresponding flanges 10 are formed. In eachflangeare made numerousslits 11 Which-permit the interveningsegments 12 of the flanges' to spread radially outward by influence-of centrifugaljforce developedby roe tation of the wheel, whereupon a-whizz'ing T i sound is produced. V

The configuration 3 maybe of a form sulch as to simulate an aeroplane'or any otherlobject to suit individual fancy, the'aeroplane shown in the. drawing being merelyexemw i plary. 'T he 'framef13 of the aeroplane pref l erablyis madem sheet-metal shaped so as to have an elongated transversely arched top 14 with-a boss 15 upon whichissuitabIyse cured a wing 16., On the forward end of the. frame is secured, a head 17 preferably {formed of'sheet metal and so shaped -as topresent the appearance of cylinders"18iandpropeller blades lS) of an aeroplane motorfi In the axial portion of theliead 17 is madcaslot 20 and those portions 21 of the head contiguous with the sides of the slot are oppositely depressed so as to extend substantially parallel with each other and diagonal withrespect to the axis of the head. t Y Theactuating spiral this preferably made of spring wireformedinto' a'coil of'uniforin 7 turns spaced apart as'an open coil-spring; The last coil 22at one end of the spiralis closed-at its end which bearsagainstthe coil 23 adjacentfthereto ff l Adjacent the opposite end of the spiral are formed several close coils 2e, the innermost one being connectedt-o the next adjacent open coil 25 by an 'aXial portion 26 of the wire forming the spiral which projects forwardly to a pointwithin'the close coil adjacent thereto. Contiguous withtlie outermost coil 24' is formed aii elonga tecl spring 10013.27 that extendsac'ross the aXis-oitheactuating spiral :1 0G throughwhichone of the loops 8 of the operating cord is loosely strung when positioned axially through the spiral. The spiral is disposed so as to extend loosely through the slot in the head 17 of the aeroplane as does also the cord 2 forming the corresponding loop 8 so that upon rotation of the spiral the aeroplane is moved forward or backward as the spiral is revolved upon its axis alternately in opposite directions.

\Vhen the aeroplane is in position upon the actuating spiral the rear end of its frame is confined in operative position by means of a V transversely disposed pin 28 therein that extends beneath the spiral so that the vframe is prevented from dislodgment.

In operation, the loops are grasped by the operatorand manipulated in the usual man nor in operating anordinary torsion wheel. As the wheel rotates first in one direction and then in the other the cords of the loops entwine correspondingly, and alternately in opposite directions, and the spiral is likewise revolved thereupon causing the aeroplane to travel to and fro lengthwise along the spiral.

lVhen the foremost opencoil passes completely through the slot 20 the axial portion 26 then extends in theslot and further for ward progress of the aeroplane is prevented imagination of the observer and conveys the impression of the sound created by an aeroplane in flight which adds realisticvalue to the toy. i

I claim: 7

1. A toy consisting of a torsion wheel and its complemental operating cord, an elastic rim on said wheel provided with axially ex-- tending slit flanges adapted to create sound upon operation of the wheel, an vactuating spiral havingan open coil portion and a stop operativelydisposed upon said cord so as to be revolved thereby upon its axis when the wheel is actuated, and a miniature configuration of an aeroplane engaged by said spiral so as to be moved to and fro thereby upon rotation of the spiral alternately in opposite directions and its movement limited by said stop.

2. A toy consisting of a torsion wheel and its complemental operating cord, an actuating spiral having an open coil portion, one end of said spiral having an axial portion and close coils constituting a stop, the coil at the opposite end of said spiral being closed, a

directions;

loop adjacent the outer end of said stop, the opening through which extends transversely with respect to'said spiral, said spiral being disposed in operative relation with said cord so that one of the end portions thereof extends loosely through said loop and lengthwise through said spiral, and a configuration engaged by saidfspiral so as to be actuated thereby upon rotation of the spiral alternately in opposite directions and its movement"limited bysaid stop.

3. toy consisting of a torsion wheel and its complemental operating cord, means operatively related with the wheel adapted to create sound upon rotation thereof, an actuating spiraldisposed on said cord so as to be revolved thereby upon its axis when the wheel is actuated,and a miniature aeroplane engaged by said-spiral so as tobe moved to and fro thereby upon rotation of the spiral alternately in opposite directions.

I 4. A toy consisting ofa torsion Wheel and its complemental operating cord, an elastic rim on said wheel provided with slit flanges adapted to create sounduponrotation of the x'vheel, an actuating spiral operatively disposed on said cord so-as.to be revolved-thereby upon its axis when the wheel is actuated, and aconfiguration engaged by said spiral so as to be movedtoand fro thereby upon rotationof the spiral alternately in opposite 5 A toy consisting of a torsionwheel and its complemental operating cord, an actuating spiral operatively disposed on said cord so as to be revolved thereby upon (its axis when the Wheel is actuated, and a configuration engagedby said spiral so as to be moved toand fro thereby upon rotation of the spiral alternately in opposite directions.

Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RUSSELL D. BEERBOYVER. 

